Delivery system assemblies and associated methods for implantable medical devices

ABSTRACT

A delivery system assembly includes an outer tube, an inner member, extending within a lumen of the outer tube, and a deflectable shaft, extending within the outer tube lumen and around the inner member; the tube and inner member are longitudinally moveable with respect to the shaft, and a distal end of the inner member is located distal to the shaft within the tube lumen. A medical device can be loaded into the tube lumen, along a distal-most portion of the tube, and contained between the inner member and a distal opening of the tube lumen. Deflecting the shaft orients the distal-most portion for navigation of the assembly, and, when the distal end of the inner member is engaged within the tube lumen, distal movement of the tube, with respect to the shaft, causes similar distal movement of the inner member and the loaded medical device toward an implant site.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is related to the following co-pending andcommonly-assigned United States patent applications: application Ser.No. 13/239,990 (Atty. Docket No. P0040842.USU1) entitled DELIVERY SYSTEMASSEMBLIES FOR IMPLANTABLE MEDICAL DEVICES, and filed on Sep. 22, 2011;and application Ser. No. 13/219,279 (Atty. Docket No. P0041227.USU1)entitled HOLDING MEMBERS FOR IMPLANTABLE CARDIAC STIMULATION DEVICES,and filed on Aug. 26, 2011.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention pertains to the delivery of implantable medicaldevices, and more particularly to system assemblies and associatedmethods that facilitate percutaneous transvenous deployment ofrelatively compact implantable cardiac medical devices.

BACKGROUND

The traditional implantable cardiac pacemaker includes a pulse generatordevice to which one or more flexible elongate lead wires are coupled.The device is typically implanted in a subcutaneous pocket, remote fromthe heart, and each of the one or more lead wires extends therefrom to acorresponding electrode, coupled thereto and positioned at a pacingsite, either endocardial or epicardial. Mechanical complications and/orMRI compatibility issues, which are sometimes associated with elongatelead wires and well known to those skilled in the art, have motivatedthe development of cardiac pacing devices that are wholly containedwithin a relatively compact package for implant in close proximity tothe pacing site, for example, within the right ventricle (RV) of theheart. With reference to FIG. 1, such a device 100 is illustrated,wherein pace/sense electrodes 111, 112 are formed on an exterior surfaceof an enclosure that hermetically contains a pulse generator includingpulse generator electronics and a power source. FIG. 1 illustrates afixation member 115 mounted to an end of the enclosure of device 100, inproximity to electrode 111, in order to fix, or secure electrode 111against the endocardial surface in the apex of the RV. The enclosure ispreferably formed from a biocompatible and biostable metal such astitanium overlaid with an insulative layer, for example, medical gradepolyurethane or silicone, except where electrode 112 is formed as anexposed portion of capsule 101. A hermetic feedthrough assembly (notshown), such as any known to those skilled in the art, couples electrode111 to the pulse generator contained within the enclosure of device 100.

FIG. 1 further illustrates a distal portion of a standard guidingcatheter 150 having been maneuvered up through the inferior vena cava(IVC) and into the RV from the right atrium (RA), according to methodsknown in the art of interventional cardiology. Although catheter 150 maybe employed to deliver device 100 to the RV, for implant, moresophisticated delivery systems that facilitate improved navigation anddeployment more suitable for relatively compact implantable devices,like device 100, are desired.

SUMMARY

A delivery system assembly, according to some embodiments of the presentinvention, includes an elongate outer tube, an elongate inner member,which extends within a lumen formed by the outer tube, and a deflectableshaft, which extends within the lumen of the outer tube and around theinner member; the outer tube and inner member are longitudinallymoveable with respect to the deflectable shaft, and a distal end of theinner member is located distal to the deflectable shaft. The distal endof the inner member is preferably configured to conform to a proximalend of a medical device, and to engage within the lumen of the outertube, in proximity to a distal opening thereof, such that an entirety ofthe medical device can be contained within the lumen of the outer tube,between the engaged distal end of the inner member and the distalopening of the outer tube lumen. Furthermore, when the distal end of theinner member is engaged within the lumen of the outer tube, advancement,or distal movement, of the outer tube with respect to the deflectableshaft causes similar distal movement of the inner member.

Navigation of the delivery system assembly through a venous system of apatient for deployment of the implantable medical device, according tosome methods of the present invention, is facilitated by deflection ofthe deflectable shaft, to orient a distal-most portion of the outertube, within which the medical device is contained/loaded, and byadvancement of the outer tube with respect to the deflectable shaft, tomove the distal end of the inner member, along with the contained/loadedmedical device into proximity with a target implant site. Once thedistal-most portion of the outer tube abuts the implant site, accordingto some embodiments and methods, the outer tube may be retracted withrespect to the inner member in order to expose a fixation member of themedical device for engagement with tissue at the site. Some embodimentsinclude a tether, for example, that extends within a lumen of the innermember; the tether is configured for removable attachment to the medicaldevice, and, when attached to the medical device, may be employed tosecure the device against the distal end of the inner member within thelumen of the outer tube, and/or to test the engagement of fixationmember with tissue at the implant site, and/or to retain a temporaryconnection between the deployed medical device and the delivery systemassembly, if repositioning of the deployed device is necessary.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following drawings are illustrative of particular embodiments of thepresent invention and therefore do not limit the scope of the invention.The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended foruse in conjunction with the explanations in the following detaileddescription. Embodiments will hereinafter be described in conjunctionwith the appended drawings wherein like numerals denote like elements,and

FIG. 1 is a schematic showing an example of an implanted cardiacstimulation device;

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a delivery system assembly, according to someembodiments;

FIGS. 2B-D are plan views of middle, inner and outer subassemblies,respectively, of the system assembly shown in FIG. 2A, according to someembodiments;

FIG. 3A is an another plan view of the delivery system assembly,including a cut-away section of an outer tube thereof, according to someembodiments;

FIG. 3B is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of a handle of theassembly, according to some embodiments;

FIGS. 4A-C are plan views of the delivery system assembly in variousstates of articulation, according to some embodiments;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart, including some schematics, that outlines somemethods of the present invention; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the delivery system assembly, including across-section view of a distal portion thereof, according to someembodiments that include a tether.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of theinvention in any way. Rather, the following description providespractical examples, and those skilled in the art will recognize thatsome of the examples may have suitable alternatives.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a delivery system assembly 200, according tosome embodiments; and FIGS. 2B-D are plan views of middle, inner andouter subassemblies, respectively, of system assembly 200, according tosome embodiments. FIG. 2A illustrates system assembly 200 including ahandle 210, which includes control member 212 and from which an elongateouter tube 230 extends; and FIG. 2D illustrates a proximal end 231 ofouter tube 230 inserted within a ring of control member 212 and bondedthereto, for example, by a UV cure adhesive. According to theillustrated embodiment, outer tube 230 forms a lumen (not shown in FIGS.2A-D) within which an elongate shaft 220, which is shown in FIG. 2B,extends; and shaft 220 includes a lumen (not shown) within which anelongate inner member 250, which is shown in FIG. 2C, extends. FIG. 2Dfurther illustrates outer tube 230 extending from proximal end 231 to adistal-most portion 235 that is terminated by a distal end 232 of outertube 230; and, it should be understood that, the lumen formed by outertube 230 preferably has a proximal opening at proximal end 231 and adistal opening at distal end 232. Although FIGS. 2A and D illustratedistal-most portion 235 being enlarged from a remainder of outer tube230, for example, having an outer diameter of approximately 0.3 inch(˜0.8 cm) over a length of approximately 3.5 cm (˜1.4 inch), an outerdiameter along a more significant length, up to an entire length ofouter tube 230, may be the same as that of the distal-most portion 235,according to some alternate embodiments,. FIG. 2B illustrates shaft 220including a proximal end 221, which is preferably fixed within handle210 at a location proximal to proximal end 231 of outer tube 230, and apull wire 225 that extends along a length of shaft 220 from a proximalend 51 thereof, which is coupled to a control member 211 of handle 210,to a distal end thereof 52, which is anchored in proximity to a distalend 222 of shaft 220, such that actuation of pull wire 225, via controlmember 211, deflects distal end 222. FIG. 2C illustrates elongate innermember 250 extending from a proximal end 251 thereof to an enlargeddistal end 252 thereof; proximal end 251 of inner member 250 may extendproximally from handle 210, through a clamping mechanism 260, forexample, a stop cock (FIG. 2A), which is coupled to handle 210 by a luerfitting (not shown). Alternately, proximal end 251 of inner member 250may be contained within handle 210 and may be coupled to another,optional control member, which is shown with dashed lines in FIG. 2A.According to embodiments of the present invention, both inner member 250and outer tube 230 are longitudinally moveable with respect to shaft 220and with respect to handle 210.

FIG. 3A is another plan view of delivery system assembly 200, accordingto some embodiments; and FIG. 3B is a enlarged perspective view of aportion of handle 210, according to some embodiments. FIG. 3A shows, byway of a cut-away section, a distal portion 236D of the lumen formed byouter tube 230 extending distally from an internal shoulder 233 of outertube 230 to the distal opening of the lumen at distal end 232, and aproximal portion 236P of the lumen extending proximally from shoulder233. FIG. 3A illustrates a distal end 222 of shaft 220 located withinlumen proximal portion 236P, just proximal to lumen distal portion 236Dwhere enlarged distal end 252 of inner member 220 is engaged. Accordingto the illustrated embodiment, when control member 211 is moved perarrow d to draw on pull wire 225 of shaft 220, distal end 222 of shaft220 is deflected so that inner member 250 and outer tube 230 arelikewise deflected per arrow D. FIG. 3A further illustrates distal end252 of inner member 250 engaged within lumen 236D of distal-most portion235 of outer tube 230 by a confronting, or abutting interface withshoulder 233, so that when control member 212 is moved distally, forexample, from a first, most proximal position 1 toward a second position2, per arrow e (FIG. 3B), outer tube 230 and inner member 250 are movedtogether distally, per arrow E, with respect to shaft 220. FIG. 3Billustrates a slot 216 of handle 210, along which control member 212 isslidable, including a locking notch 217 at first position 1 and controlmember engaged in a similar locking notch at second position 2.According to the illustrated embodiment, control member 212 is laterallymoveable, per arrow L, into locking engagement with notches 217, toprevent inadvertent extension or retraction of outer tube 230, from therespective positions corresponding to opposite ends of travel along slot216. With further reference to FIGS. 3A-B, when control member 212 ismoved toward a third position 3, per arrow r, outer tube 230 isretracted, or moved proximally, per arrow R, with respect to shaft 220,and distal end of inner member 250 is disengaged from distal-mostportion 235, so that the proximal movement of outer tube 230 may beindependent of, or relative to inner member 250. It should be noted thatanother locking notch 217 for control member 212 may be located at thirdposition 3, according to some embodiments, to retain outer tube 230 inthe retracted position. According to some alternate embodiments andmethods, with reference to FIG. 2A, proximal end 251 of inner member 250may be pushed to advance distal end 252 out from distal-most portion 235of outer tube 230, either independently of or in conjunction with outertube retraction. In order to facilitate the relative movement of outertube 230 and inner member 250, a biocompatible lubricant, such as MED361 silicone oil, may be applied between the outer surface of enlargeddistal end 252 of inner member and an inner surface 238 of distal-mostportion 235 of outer tube 230. According to some embodiments, an O-ringtype seal member (i.e. silicone; not shown), which may be lubricated,for example, with silicone oil, forms a dynamic sealing interfacebetween outer tube 230 and shaft 220 within handle 210, in proximity tocontrol member 212. Another lubricated O-ring type seal member may alsobe located between inner member 250 and shaft, in proximity to controlmember 211, for similar dynamic sealing therebetween. (It should benoted that alternate embodiments may employ other means of similarengagement between distal end 252 of inner member 250 and lumen 236Dthat allows for the above-described coordinated distal movement of outertube 230 and inner member 250 and the independent proximal movement ofouter tube 230, or independent distal movement of inner member 250.)

According to some preferred embodiments, enlarged distal end 252 ofinner member 250 conforms to a proximal end 121 of device 100, and, withreference to FIG. 3, when distal end 252 is engaged within lumen 236D,device 100 is wholly contained within distal-most portion 235 of outertube 230, between distal end 252 and distal end 232. According to anexemplary embodiment, lumen 236D has a maximum diameter of approximately0.275 inch (˜0.7 cm) that extends along a length of approximately 3 cmto contain device 100. According to some embodiments, the conformingconfiguration of distal end 252 can help to retain device 100 withindistal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230 during navigation of deliverysystem assembly 200 and prior to deployment of device 100 therefrom. Anouter surface of enlarged distal end 252 may form a seal against aninner surface 238 of distal-most portion 235, for example to preventblood ingress within the lumen of outer tube 230 during navigation ofassembly 200; however, according to some preferred embodiments, a gapbetween distal end 252 and inner surface 238 of distal-most portion 235allows fluid, for example, saline, to be flushed around device 100(loaded within distal-most portion 235) and thereby prevent theintroduction of air into a patient's venous system as delivery systemassembly 200 is inserted therein. With reference back to FIG. 2A, thefluid may be introduced through a port 265 of handle 210, which is influid communication with the lumen (proximal portion 236P—FIG. 3) ofouter tube 230.

FIGS. 4A-C are plan views of delivery system assembly 200 in variousstates of articulation, according to some embodiments, as facilitated bythe various elements of assembly 200, introduced above. FIG. 4Aillustrates the above-described deflection, per arrow D, actuated bymovement of control member 211 to draw pull wire 225 per arrow d; thedeflection helps to orient distal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230 fornavigation within a patient's venous system, for example, as describedin greater detail below. An angle θ of the deflection (from the verticalline of FIG. 4A) may range from approximately 100 degrees toapproximately 200 degrees. FIG. 4B illustrates an extension of systemassembly 200, per arrow E, actuated by movement of control member 212per arrow e to push/advance outer tube 230, along with inner member 250,distally, as described above; the extension provides a variable reach ofdistal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230 in order to deploy device 100,carried therein, to a target implant site, for example, as describedbelow. The range of reach facilitated by the extension may be fromapproximately 5 cm to approximately 10 cm. As described above, inconjunction with FIG. 3B, control member 212, when positioned at eachend of the range of reach for outer tube 230, is preferably lockedwithin the corresponding locking notch 217. FIG. 4C illustrates theabove-described retraction of outer tube 230, per arrow R, which is alsoactuated by movement of control member 212, but in an oppositedirection, per arrow r. When distal end 232 of outer tube 230 reachesthe target implant site, retraction of outer tube 230 exposes fixationmember 115 of device 100 to engage tissue at the site. According to somepreferred embodiments, distal end 252 of inner member 250 is radiopaqueand distal end 232 of outer tube 230 is fitted with a radiopaque marker,so that the retraction of outer tube 230, relative to distal end 252,for the deployment of device 100, can be observed via fluoroscopy.According to an exemplary embodiment, enlarged distal end 252 is formedfrom a polyether block amide, for example, PEBAX® 7033, with aradiopaque Barium sulfate filler, and distal-most portion 235 is alsoformed from a polyether block amide, for example, PEBAX® 7233, which, atdistal end 232, includes a radiopaque band of 75% Tungsten and 25%PEBAX® 6033 sandwiched between layers of the PEBAX® 7233.

The above-described conforming configuration of distal end 252 of innermember 250 may help to retain a temporary connection between device 100and assembly 200 until fixation member 115 becomes engaged with thetissue, but, according to some preferred embodiments, device 100 isfurther secured to assembly 200 by a tether 280 (FIGS. 2A and 6), whichis configured for removable attachment to proximal end 121 of device100, as will be described in greater detail below. Tether 280 ispreferably formed from a thinly stranded polymer or fiber, such asbraided polyethylene terephthalate (PET) or monofilament polypropylene.Although FIG. 4C illustrates, distal end 252 of inner member 250positioned distal to distal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230, in somealternate embodiments, the relative movement of outer tube 230 and innermember 250 is limited such that distal end 252 of inner member 250cannot be positioned distal to/outside of distal-most portion 235 ofouter tube 230.

A flexibility of each of shaft 220 and outer tube 230, is preferablygraduated from a relatively stiff proximal segment to a relativelyflexible distal segment in order to facilitate the deflection, per arrowD (FIGS. 4A-C), and may be of any suitable construction known in theart. According to an exemplary embodiment, outer tube 230 includes: aproximal segment, which is formed by a stainless steel braid (i.e.0.0018″×0.008″×45 PPI) embedded between a PEBAX® 6333 liner and a PEBAX®7033 outer jacket, and which extends over a length of approximately 102cm (a proximal portion of which length is always contained within handle210); and a distal segment, which is also formed by the sameaforementioned liner and braid, but has an outer jacket of PEBAX® 3533,and which extends distally from the proximal segment, over a length ofapproximately 10 cm, to distal-most portion 235. Outer and innerdiameters of outer tube 230, along the above-described segments, may beapproximately 0.187 inch (˜4.75 mm) and approximately 0.154 inch (˜3.91mm), respectively. Shaft 220, according to the same exemplaryembodiment, preferably includes a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) lineroverlaid with a 304 stainless steel braid (0.001″×0.005″; 65 pics perinch), along which a PTFE tubing, that forms a lumen for pull wire 225(i.e. 0.010″ stainless steel wire), is threaded; a proximal segment ofshaft 220, which is approximately 122 cm long (including that portionwhich extends within handle 210), has a PEBAX® 7233 outer jacket; anintermediate segment of shaft 220, which extends distally from theproximal segment over a length of approximately 2.5 cm, has a PEBAX®3533 outer jacket; and a distal segment, which terminates shaft 220 andin which pull wire 225 is anchored, has a length of approximately 0.3 cmand a PEBAX® 7233 outer jacket. Inner and outer diameters of shaft 220,along the above-described segments, may be approximately 0.068 inch(˜1.73 mm) and approximately 0.118 inch (˜3 mm), respectively.Furthermore, according to the exemplary embodiment, a shaft of innermember 250, which extends proximally from distal end 252, for example,over a length of approximately 130 cm, includes a 304 stainless steelbraid (0.002″ double stranded; 40 pics per inch) sandwiched between aliner and an outer layer, each of which is formed from Rilsan® AESNO(Polyamide 12), with 30% bismuth subcarbonate. Inner and outer diametersof the shaft of inner member 250 may be approximately 0.0415 inch (˜1.05mm) and approximately 0.058 inch (˜1.47 mm), respectively, with distalend 252 preferably enlarged therefrom, as described above, for example,to engage within distal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230 and/or toconform to proximal end 121 of device 100. With reference back to FIG.2C, a proximal length 253 of inner member 250 preferably include astainless steel hypo-tube, for example, to support the above describedshaft of inner member 250 for pushability and manipulation of innermember 250. The hypo-tube may have an inner diameter of approximately0.025″ (˜0.6 mm) and an outer diameter of approximately 0.040″ (˜1 mm),extend within the shaft of inner member 250, for example, over a lengthof approximately 15 cm, and extend proximally from the shaft, forexample, over a length of approximately 15 cm, to terminate at proximalend 251 of inner member 250.

FIG. 5 is a flow chart, including some schematics, that outlines somemethods of the present invention for deploying an implantable cardiacmedical device, such as device 100. According to an initial step 501,and with reference to FIG. 3A, device 100 is loaded into distal portion236D of the lumen formed by outer tube 230 of delivery system assembly200, such that an entirety of device 100 is contained within distal-mostportion 235 of outer tube 230 and proximal end 121 of device 100 abutsdistal end 252 of inner member 250. According to some preferredembodiments and methods, when loading device 100, per step 501, atether, for example, tether 280 (described below, in conjunction withFIG. 6) is attached to proximal end 121 of device 100; the tetherpreferably extends proximally from device 100, for example, through alumen of inner member 250 and proximally from proximal end 251 (FIGS. 2Aand 6). The above-referenced co-pending and commonly assigned U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/219,279 (Atty. Docket No. P0041227.USU1)describes some alternate configurations of proximal end 121 of device100 that may be employed for tether attachment.

After loading device 100, air may be purged from delivery systemassembly 200 by flushing the lumens of inner member 250, shaft 220 andouter tube 230; then, as positive fluid pressure is held within thelumens, delivery system assembly 200 is introduced into a patient'svenous system, for example, through an introducer sheath at a femoralsite, so that delivery system assembly 200 may be advanced, per step503, into the RA (right atrium) of the heart, for example, via the IVC(inferior vena cava), at which point, distal-most portion 235 of outertube 230 is oriented toward the tricuspid valve (TV), per step 505.According to preferred methods, distal-most portion 235 is oriented bydeflecting distal end 222 of shaft 220, via control member 211 and pullwire 225, as described above. With reference back to FIG. 4A, angle θmay be approximately 110 degrees to orient distal-most portion 235toward the TV. Once oriented, distal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230is advanced across the TV, into the RV (right ventricle), and to atarget implant site, per step 507, such that distal-most portion 235abuts the site and the distal opening of the lumen of outer tube 230, atdistal end 232, is within tissue, for example, trabeculae carneae, atthe site. As described above, control member 212 is preferably employedto actuate the advancement/extension of outer tube 230, and theengagement of enlarged distal end 252 of inner member 250 causes innermember 250 and device 100 to be advanced along with distal-most portion235, while shaft 220 remains relatively stationary. Subsequently,distal-most portion 235 is retracted, per step 509, with respect todistal end 252 of inner member 250, so that fixation member 115 ofdevice 100 is exposed to engage with the tissue at the site. Theadvancement and retraction of distal-most portion 235 may be actuated bydistal and proximal movement of control member 212, which is coupled toproximal end 231 of outer tube 230, as described above. According toalternate methods, inner member 250 may be advanced relative to outertube 230 to push device 100 distally and thereby expose fixation member115, however the retraction of distal-most portion 235, per step 509, isthe preferred means to expose fixation member 115, so as to preventinjury, for example, perforation by excess push force, at the targetimplant site.

According to some embodiments, outer tube 230 may be rotatable, withrespect to handle 210, about a longitudinal axis thereof, such that,according to some methods, following the above-described deflection ofshaft 220, per step 505, oriented distal-most portion 235 may be sweptin an arc to further enable navigation from the RA into the RV and/orwithin the RV to one or more target implant sites, according to step507. Alternately shaft 220 may be rotatable with respect to handle 210toward the same purpose. It is contemplated that the above-describedcontrol members 212 and 211, which correspond to outer tube 230 andshaft 220, respectively, may be configured to also actuate therespective rotation. Furthermore, according to some embodiments, anadditional degree of freedom for deflection of delivery system assemblymay be provided by an additional pull wire, either integrated into outertube 230 or into inner member 250. For example, inner member 250 may beformed by a dual lumen shaft, wherein the pull wire (not shown) extendsalong a length of a second lumen (not shown) that extends alongsidelumen 256. A proximal end of the additional pull wire may be coupled toa third control member of handle 210 (for example, like the optionalcontrol member shown with dashed lines in FIG. 2A), and a distal end ofthe additional pull wire may be anchored in proximity to enlarged distalend 252 of inner member 250, so that an additional deflection, distal tothat per arrow D in FIG. 4A, may be actuated, for example, per arrow D2of FIG. 4B. The above-referenced related, co-pending and commonlyassigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/239,990 (Atty. Docket No.P0040842.USU1) describes such an inner member(inner member 220), thedescription of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Such a duallumen construction for inner member 250 may necessitate a larger shaft220, for example, one having an inner diameter of approximately 0.128inch and an outer diameter of approximately 0.142 inch.

With reference back to FIGS. 4A-C, an optional relatively rigid sheath270 is shown extending distally from handle 210 over a limited length ofouter tube 230. Optional sheath 270 facilitates the above-describedextension and retraction, for example, by preventing an operator who ishandling delivery system 200 from inadvertently applying a force aroundouter tube 230 in proximity to handle 210, which force could impede theextension and retraction. The above-referenced co-pending and commonlyassigned related U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/239,990 (Atty.Docket No. P0040842.USU1) describes such a sheath (stability sheath250), as well as an optional overlay, which is also shown in FIGS. 4A-Cand designated by reference numeral 275, the descriptions of which arehereby incorporated by reference. With further reference to FIGS. 4A-C,optional overlay 275 surrounds outer tube 230 in proximity to handle210. Optional overlay 275 can facilitate the above-described extensionand retraction, for example, by providing an enhanced interface betweensystem assembly 200 and a valve of the aforementioned introducer sheath,for example, an interface that provides improved sealing and/oradditional radial strength to counteract a compressive force of thevalve, which, if the valve is a Tuohy Borst type, can be tightened downaround system 200 to different degrees depending upon the operator.Optional overlay 275 is preferably slidable over outer tube 230 so thatoverlay 275 may be repositioned with respect to handle 210 in order tocoincide with the valve of the introducer sheath, prior to step 507.

Returning now to FIG. 5, after exposing fixation member 115 of device100, per step 509, inner member 250 is withdrawn, or moved away fromdevice 100, but, according to preferred embodiments and methods, atether, like tether 280 of FIG. 6, retains a temporary connectionbetween device 100 and delivery system assembly 200 until acceptablefunction of device 100 at the implant site is verified. Inner member 250is preferably withdrawn relative to outer tube 230 so as to retractenlarged distal end 252 back into engagement within lumen distal portion236D. According to step 511, once inner member 250 is withdrawn, a tugforce is applied to the proximal end of tether 280 to test adequatefixation of device 100 at the site, and if fixation is verified, thefunction of device 100 is evaluated, per step 513. According to theembodiment of device 100 that is illustrated in FIGS. 1, 3A and 6,electrical pacing stimulation and sensing, via electrodes 111, 112, isevaluated as part of the function of device 100; other aspects of devicefunction that may be evaluated include, without limitation, telemetrysignal strength for wireless communications and the quality of othertypes of sensing, for example, if included in device 100, by testing theperformance of a mechanical transducer and/or chemical sensor.

If the evaluated function of the implanted device 100 is not acceptable,repositioning of device 100 to another target implant site isundertaken, per step 513. Repositioning may be accomplished byre-advancing distal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230 together withengaged distal end 252 of inner member 250, over the tether and back todevice 100, while pulling on tether to remove any slack, so as to‘recapture’ or re-load device 100 into distal-most portion 235 throughthe distal opening of the lumen at distal end 232. As distal-mostportion 230 is moved over device 100, distal end 232 preferablydisengages fixation member 115 from the tissue so that an entirety ofdevice 100 is contained within distal-most portion 235 for repositioningof delivery system assembly 200. Repositioning delivery system assembly200 may be accomplished by adjusting the deflection of shaft 220 tore-orient distal-most portion 235, with or without adjusting the amountof extension of outer tube 230 with respect to shaft 220 (i.e. per arrowE of FIG. 4B), and/or by other manipulations of system assembly 200, forexample, the rotation of outer tube 230 or shaft 220 and/or additionaldeflection of outer tube 230 or inner member 250, as described above forsome alternate embodiments. Once assembly 200 is repositioned at anothertarget site, device 100 may be re-deployed, for example, according tosteps 509 and 511. It should be noted that navigation of system assembly200 and the deployment of device 100 may be monitored via fluoroscopy,and, as indicated above, distal end 252 of inner member 250 and distalend 232 of outer tube are preferably radiopaque for fluoroscopicvisualization. Finally, when the function of device 100 is found to beacceptable, either at the initial target implant site, or at analternate implant site, the tether is removed from device 100 throughsystem assembly 200, and system assembly 200 is withdrawn from thevenous system, per step 515. FIG. 6 is a plan view of the deliverysystem assembly, including a cross-section view of a distal portionthereof, according to some embodiments that include tether 280, forreference in conjunction with further detailed description of someabove-described method steps.

FIG. 6 illustrates inner member 250 including a lumen 256 that extendsalong a length thereof, from a proximal opening at proximal end251(FIGS. 2A and 2C) to a distal opening at enlarged distal end 252, anda loop of tether 280 extending along a length of lumen 256. Tether 280is shown threaded through an eyelet formed in proximal end 121 of device100, such that a distal portion of the tether loop is located withindistal end 252 of inner member. FIG. 6 further illustrates a proximalend of tether loop extending proximally from handle 210, throughclamping mechanism/stop cock 260, and terminated by a handling feature285 in which opposite terminal ends of tether 280 are engaged. Accordingto some methods, when device 100 is loaded into system assembly 200, perstep 501 of FIG. 5, tether 280 is attached to proximal end 121 of device100, and then terminal ends of tether 280 are pulled through lumen 256of inner member 250, from distal end 252 and out through handle 210, forexample, by an elongate needle-like tool (not shown). The loop of tether280 is then formed by engaging the terminal ends in handling member 285as shown in FIG. 6. According to some embodiments, when tether 280 ispulled taught, per arrow t, handling member 285 may be secured in afeature of handle 210 (not shown), and thereby secure proximal end 121of device 100 against a confronting surface of distal end 252 of innermember 250. Alternately, as shown in FIG. 6, clamping mechanism/stopcock 260 is employed to secure tether 280 once pulled taught. Device 100may remain thus secured by tether 280 throughout steps 503 to 509 untilinner member 250 is withdrawn, per step 511, then, when the function ofdevice 100 is evaluated, per step 513, some slack in tether 280 isdesirable to prevent tether 280 from applying any pull force on theimplanted device. Following evaluation, if device 100 needs to berepositioned to an alternate implant site, the slack is removed fromtether 280 as distal-most portion 235 of outer tube 230, together withengaged distal end 252 of inner member 250, are advanced back towarddevice 100, over tether 280, to re-capture device 100. Finally, when thefunction of device 100 is found to be acceptable, either at the initialor alternate target implant site, tether 280 is removed from device 100through system assembly 200 by releasing one of the terminal ends fromhandling member 285, for example, by cutting into the tether loop, andpulling on the other end of tether 280, which is still engaged byhandling member 285, to draw tether 280 proximally out from lumen 256 ofinner member 250.

In the foregoing detailed description, the invention has been describedwith reference to specific embodiments. However, it may be appreciatedthat various modifications and changes can be made without departingfrom the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A delivery system assembly facilitating deployment of animplantable medical device, the assembly comprising: a handle includinga first control member and a second control member; an elongate shaftextending distally from the handle, the shaft including a proximal endfixed within the handle, a deflectable distal end, a lumen extendingfrom a proximal opening thereof at the proximal end to a distal openingthereof at the distal end, and a pull wire, the pull wire including aproximal end coupled to the first control member of the handle and adistal end anchored to the deflectable distal end of the shaft, thefirst control member for deflecting the shaft via the pull wire; anelongate inner member including an enlarged distal end, the inner memberextending within the lumen of the shaft and distally from the distalopening of the shaft lumen to the enlarged distal end, the inner memberbeing longitudinally moveable with respect to the shaft, and theenlarged distal end of the inner member being configured to conform to aproximal end of the medical device; and an elongate outer tube extendingdistally from the handle and forming a lumen in which the shaft and theinner member extend such that an entirety of the outer tube islongitudinally moveable with respect to the shaft by means of the secondcontrol member of the handle, which is coupled to the outer tube, theouter tube including an internal shoulder and a distal-most portion thathas a length, along which the lumen of the outer tube extends from theinternal shoulder to a distal opening of the lumen, and the lumen of theouter tube, along the length of the distal-most portion, being sized tocontain both the enlarged distal end of the inner member and an entiretyof the implantable medical device; and wherein, when the enlarged distalend of the inner member is contained within the lumen of the outer tube,along the length of the distal-most portion, and abuts the internalshoulder of the outer tube, and the outer tube is moved longitudinallyin a distal direction, the inner member is also moved longitudinally inthe distal direction with respect to the shaft.
 2. The assembly of claim1, wherein the configuration of the lumen along the length of thedistal-most portion of the outer tube allows longitudinal movement ofthe outer tube with respect to the inner member, so that the enlargeddistal end of the inner member can be located outside the lumen of theouter tube, distal to the distal opening of the lumen of the outer tube.3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the inner member is longitudinallymoveable with respect to the outer tube.
 4. The assembly of claim 1,wherein a maximum distance over which the outer tube is longitudinallymoveable in the distal direction is approximately 10 cm.
 5. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein the handle further includes a third control member,the inner member further includes a proximal end coupled to the thirdcontrol member, and the inner member is longitudinally moveable withrespect to the outer tube by means of the control member.
 6. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein the outer tube is rotatable with respect tothe handle, about a central longitudinal axis thereof.
 7. The assemblyof claim 1, wherein the enlarged distal end of the inner member isradiopaque.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein: the handle furtherincludes a third control member; and the inner member further includes apull wire, the inner member being deflectable, in proximity to theenlarged distal end thereof, by means of the pull wire thereof, the pullwire of the inner member having a proximal end coupled to the thirdcontrol member of the handle and a distal end anchored in proximity tothe enlarged distal end of the inner member.
 9. The assembly of claim 1,further comprising a tether; and wherein: the inner member includes aproximal end and a lumen that extends from a proximal opening thereof atthe proximal end of the inner member to a distal opening thereof at theenlarged distal end of the inner member; and the tether extends withinthe lumen of the inner member from the proximal opening to the distalopening thereof, the tether being configured for removable attachment tothe medical device in proximity to the distal opening of the lumen ofthe inner member.
 10. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising anoverlay surrounding the outer tube in proximity to the handle, theoverlay being slidable over the outer tube for repositioning of theoverlay with respect to the handle.
 11. A delivery system assemblyfacilitating deployment of an implantable medical device, the assemblycomprising: an elongate outer tube forming a lumen that extends from aproximal opening thereof at a proximal end of the outer tube to a distalopening thereof at a distal end of the tube, the lumen being sized tocontain an entirety of the medical device therein in proximity to thedistal opening thereof; an elongate inner member extending within thelumen of the outer tube, the inner member including a proximal end and adistal end, the distal end of the inner member being configured toconform to a proximal end of the medical device and to engage within thelumen of the outer tube in proximity to the distal opening thereof at alocation allowing the entirety of the medical device to fit between thedistal end of the inner member and the distal opening of the lumen ofthe outer tube; and an elongate deflectable shaft extending within thelumen of the outer tube and around the inner member, the deflectableshaft including a distal end located proximal to the distal end of theinner member; wherein the outer tube and the inner member arelongitudinally moveable, with respect to the deflectable shaft, and,when the distal end of the inner member is engaged within the lumen ofthe outer tube, longitudinal movement of the outer tube, in a distaldirection, causes similar distal movement of the distal end of the innermember.
 12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein the distal end of theinner member is disengaged from within the lumen of the outer tube whenthe outer tube is moved longitudinally, in a proximal direction.
 13. Theassembly of claim 11, wherein the outer tube is also moveable withrespect to the inner member.
 14. The assembly of claim 11, wherein theinner member is also moveable with respect to the outer tube.
 15. Theassembly of claim 11, further comprising a tether; and wherein: theinner member includes a lumen that extends from a proximal openingthereof at the proximal end of the inner member to a distal openingthereof at the distal end of the inner member; and the tether extendswithin the lumen of the inner member from the proximal to the distalopening thereof, the tether being configured for removable attachment tothe medical device in proximity to the distal opening of the lumen ofthe inner member.
 16. A method for deploying an implantable cardiacmedical device, the method comprising: loading an entirety of theimplantable medical device into a distal-most portion of an outer tubeof a delivery system assembly such that a proximal end of the medicaldevice abuts a distal end of an inner member of the delivery systemassembly, the inner member extending within a lumen formed by the outertube; advancing the delivery system assembly within a venous system of apatient to locate the distal-most portion of the outer tube, with themedical device loaded therein, within a right atrium of the patient;orienting the located distal-most portion of the outer tube toward atricuspid valve of the patient by deflecting a distal end of a shaft ofthe delivery system assembly, the shaft extending within the lumen ofthe outer tube and around the inner member such that the distal end ofthe shaft is positioned proximal to the distal end of the inner member;advancing, with respect to the deflected distal end of the shaft, thedistal-most portion of the outer tube through the tricuspid valve andinto a right ventricle of the patient to a target implant site, suchthat the distal-most portion of the outer tube abuts the implant site,the advancing carrying the distal end of the inner member and the loadedmedical device along with the distal-most portion, by means of anengagement of the distal end of the inner member within the lumen of theouter tube; and retracting the outer tube with respect to the distal endof the inner member and the shaft to expose a fixation member of themedical device for engagement of tissue at the implant site.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising: attaching a tether to theproximal end of the implantable medical device when loading the deviceinto the distal-most portion of the delivery system assembly; threadingthe tether through a lumen of the inner member such that terminal endsof the tether are accessible at a proximal end of the delivery systemassembly; withdrawing the inner member along the tether and away fromthe medical device, after retracting the outer tube; and tugging on thetether to test engagement of the fixation member of the medical device,after withdrawing the inner member.
 18. The method of claim 17, furthercomprising: evaluating a function of the medical device, after tuggingon the proximal portion of the tether and if the tugging indicatesengagement of the fixation member of the device; and if the evaluatedfunction is not acceptable, re-loading the device into the distal-mostportion of the outer tube of the delivery system assembly by: advancingthe inner member back toward the medical device so that the proximal endof the device abuts the distal end of the inner member while pulling onthe proximal portion of the tether to remove any slack in the tether;and advancing the outer tube over the shaft and the inner member untilboth the distal end of the inner member and an entirety of the medicaldevice are contained within the distal-most portion of the outer tube;and repositioning the delivery system assembly and the re-loaded medicaldevice such that the distal-most portion of the outer tube abuts anothertarget implant site.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein therepositioning comprises re-orienting the distal-most portion of theouter tube of the delivery system assembly by adjusting the deflectionof the shaft of the delivery system assembly.
 20. The method of claim18, further comprising deflecting the inner member, in proximity to thedistal end thereof, the deflecting of the inner member to further orientthe distal-most portion of the outer tube prior to, or in conjunctionwith, advancing the distal-most portion to the target implant site or tothe other target implant site.
 21. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising rotating the outer tube to further orient the distal-mostportion of the outer tube prior to, or in conjunction with, advancingthe distal-most portion to the target implant site or to the othertarget implant site.
 22. The method of claim 16, further comprisingdeflecting the inner member, in proximity to the distal end thereof, thedeflecting of the inner member to further orient the distal-most portionof the outer tube prior to, or in conjunction with, advancing thedistal-most portion to the target implant site.
 23. The method of claim16, further comprising rotating the outer tube to further orient thedistal-most portion of the outer tube prior to, or in conjunction with,advancing the distal-most portion to the target implant site.
 24. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising positioning an overlay of thedelivery system to coincide with a valve of an introducer sheath throughwhich the delivery system assembly is advanced, after advancing thedelivery system assembly within the venous system and prior to advancingthe distal-most portion of the outer tube through the tricuspid valve,the overlay being slideable over the outer tube and, when positioned,providing an enhanced interface between the valve of the introducersheath and the delivery system assembly.